Genesis Won't Get Its First SUV until 2020

At an event with automotive media last week in Detroit, Erwin Raphael, executive director of Genesis Motor America, confirmed that the brand's first SUV will go on sale in early 2020. To be dubbed GV80, the mid-size luxury crossover was previewed in concept form a few years ago, and the production version should stick close to the concept's daring design when it enters into the hotly contested segment populated by established competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE and BMW X5.

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The GV80 will launch at around the same time as the next-generation G80 sedan, and the two cars will share an all-new platform. Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive will be on offer for the G80 and GV80, and we expect an engine lineup similar to that of the current G80, meaning a 3.8-liter V-6, a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6, and a 5.0-liter V-8. Both the G80 and GV80 could be revealed sometime next year ahead of their on-sale dates in the first half of 2020; Genesis hasn't decided on the debut schedule yet.

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Following the GV80 will be a smaller crossover called the GV70, which is due in early 2021. Riding on the same platform as the recently introduced G70 sport sedan, the GV70 will go after crossovers such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Regarding the possibility of new engines for these upcoming models, Raphael said that the debut of the GV70 "could be a great time to introduce other powertrains." That could mean the introduction of brand-new engines, or just heavy updates to the existing turbo four and twin-turbo V-6 used by the G70. When asked if Genesis has a strategy for alternative powertrains, such as hybrids and EVs, Raphael only responded with a "yes," but declined to elaborate.

In addition to the GV70 and GV80, the large G90 luxury sedan will be getting a refresh for 2019 and could be revealed as early as the end of this year. Raphael also confirmed that Genesis is still working on a sixth model that will take the form of a sports coupe. That car is at least a few years away, and Genesis is undecided on the market segment, powertrains, and pricing for the model.

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There could be a seventh car entering the Genesis lineup in the future: the stunning Essentia. Unveiled as a concept at the New York auto show earlier this year, the Essentia is a butterfly-door'd electric coupe that serves as a glimpse into the future of Genesis design. While nothing has been approved for production yet, Raphael said that "we are very committed to the Essentia," adding that, if produced, it would be "a statement car," one built in limited quantities and priced higher than anything in the current lineup. Reception for the Essentia was overwhelmingly positive, and it's clear that the brand really wants to make it happen. (There is a possibility that the Essentia would take the place of the planned sports coupe instead of supplementing it, but nothing has been set in stone.)

Genesis started off by launching three sedans in three years, which the brand sees as its core models—45 percent of the luxury market is sedans. Raphael says that they are "comfortable with what we have in the pipeline," but with the luxury-crossover segments booming, those new SUVs can't come soon enough.